Avish 
IPL 2025 1st Match KKR vs RCB:
The opening clash of IPL 2025 saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. In a high-octane encounter, RCB showcased their class with both the ball and the bat, securing a 7-wicket win to kick off their campaign in style.
Despite a solid partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine for KKR, RCB’s bowlers tightened the screws in the later overs to restrict them to 174/8. Phil Salt’s explosive knock and Virat Kohli’s composed innings ensured RCB chased down the target comfortably with 22 balls to spare.
IPL 2025 1st Match KKR vs RCB, KKR’s Innings: A Tale of Two Halves
Early Blow in the First Over
KKR’s innings got off to a rocky start after RCB won the toss and opted to field. Quinton de Kock opened the innings alongside Sunil Narine, but his stay at the crease was short-lived. Josh Hazlewood struck in the very first over, dismissing de Kock for a duck, leaving KKR reeling at 4/1.
Fall of Wicket: 1-4 (Quinton de Kock, 0.5 ov) c Sharma b Hazlewood
Rahane and Narine Stabilize the Innings
After the early setback, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the innings with an impressive 103-run partnership. Rahane played the anchor, while Narine attacked the RCB bowlers with his trademark power-hitting.
Sunil Narine’s Blistering Knock:
- 44 runs off 26 balls
- 5 boundaries and 3 sixes
- Strike rate: 169.23
Narine’s counter-attacking innings kept the run rate ticking, but he fell to Rasikh Salam in the 10th over, giving RCB a much-needed breakthrough.
Fall of Wicket: 2-107 (Sunil Narine, 9.6 ov) c Sharma b Rasikh Salam
Middle-Order Collapse Hurts KKR
Rahane continued to play a steady innings, reaching 53 off 38 balls, but once he was dismissed by Krunal Pandya in the 11th over, KKR’s innings started to lose momentum. Pandya’s brilliant spell dismantled KKR’s middle order, taking 3 crucial wickets — Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh — in quick succession.
Fall of Wickets:
- 3-109 (Ajinkya Rahane, 10.3 ov)
- 4-125 (Venkatesh Iyer, 12.1 ov)
- 5-145 (Rinku Singh, 14.6 ov)
- 6-150 (Andre Russell, 15.4 ov)
- 7-168 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 18.5 ov)
- 8-173 (Harshit Rana, 19.5 ov)
Despite a brief cameo from Andre Russell, who tried to accelerate the innings, KKR kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Suyash Sharma dismissed Russell in the 16th over, while Hazlewood returned to pick up Harshit Rana in the final over, restricting KKR to 174/8.
RCB Bowlers Shine: Restricting KKR to 174/8
The RCB bowlers displayed remarkable discipline and executed their plans perfectly to restrict KKR to a manageable total.
Top Performers with the Ball:
- Josh Hazlewood: 4 overs, 22 runs, 2 wickets, 5.5 economy
- Krunal Pandya: 4 overs, 29 runs, 3 wickets, 7.25 economy
- Yash Dayal: 3 overs, 25 runs, 1 wicket, 8.33 economy
- Rasikh Salam: 3 overs, 35 runs, 1 wicket, 11.66 economy
- Suyash Sharma: 4 overs, 47 runs, 1 wicket, 11.75 economy
- Liam Livingstone: 2 overs, 14 runs, 0 wickets, 7.00 economy
Hazlewood’s early strike and tight death overs, coupled with Pandya’s middle-over brilliance, ensured KKR couldn’t capitalize on their promising start.
You Might Be Interested To Know About This: IPL 2025 Matches Schedule
RCB’s Run Chase: Salt’s Firepower and Kohli’s Masterclass
Explosive Start by Phil Salt
Chasing 175, RCB’s openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli came out with a positive mindset. Salt, in particular, was in an aggressive mood, taking on the KKR bowlers from the word go. His blazing innings of 56 off 31 balls included 9 boundaries and 2 sixes, giving RCB a flying start.
Fall of Wicket: 1-95 (Phil Salt, 8.3 ov) c Johnson b Varun
Kohli Anchors the Chase
After Salt’s dismissal, Virat Kohli took control of the innings, pacing his knock beautifully. Kohli played the anchor role while ensuring the required run rate was never an issue. His unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, with 4 boundaries and 3 sixes, guided RCB comfortably toward the target.
Virat Kohli’s Composed Knock:
- 59 runs off 36 balls
- 4 boundaries and 3 sixes
- Strike rate: 163.88
Middle-Order Contributions Finish the Job
Though Devdutt Padikkal fell for 10 runs in the 12th over, Rajat Patidar chipped in with a quickfire 34 off 16 balls, striking 5 boundaries and 1 six. His aggressive approach ensured RCB maintained the momentum.
Fall of Wicket: 2-118 (Devdutt Padikkal, 11.4 ov) c Ramandeep Singh b Narine
Fall of Wicket: 3-156 (Rajat Patidar, 15.3 ov) c Singh b Arora
Liam Livingstone Seals the Win
With just a few runs needed, Liam Livingstone joined Kohli and finished the match in style. His 15 runs off just 5 balls included 2 boundaries and 1 six, taking RCB home with 22 balls to spare.
RCB’s Final Score: 177/3 in 16.2 overs
Result: RCB won by 7 wickets
Key Turning Points
Hazlewood’s Early Strike: Setting the tone by removing de Kock early.
Rahane-Narine Partnership: Their 103-run stand kept KKR in the game.
Krunal Pandya’s Middle-Over Spell: Three crucial wickets that derailed KKR’s innings.
Salt’s Explosive Start: His quick 56 gave RCB a solid foundation.
Kohli’s Calm Finish: A masterclass in chasing under pressure.
Final Score Summary
Kolkata Knight Riders: 174/8 (20 overs)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 177/3 (16.2 overs)
IPL 2025 1st Match KKR vs RCB Result: RCB won by 7 wickets
Do You Need Real-Time Cricket Updates? Click here to see the IPL 2025 Live Score today
About Author
